{"id":30550,"date":"2013-12-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-12-27T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/30550\/live-blog-car-bomb-explodes-in-beirut-killing-hariri-aide-mohammad-chatah"},"modified":"2023-08-11T03:22:54","modified_gmt":"2023-08-11T03:22:54","slug":"live-blog-car-bomb-explodes-in-beirut-killing-hariri-aide-mohammad-chatah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/en\/30550\/live-blog-car-bomb-explodes-in-beirut-killing-hariri-aide-mohammad-chatah\/","title":{"rendered":"Live Blog: Car Bomb Explodes in Beirut, Killing Hariri Aide Mohammad Chatah"},"content":{"rendered":"A car bomb went off around 9:45 a.m. Friday morning in downtown Beirut. The explosion happened just behind the Four Seasons Hotel and in the area of the multi-building Starco office block. Former Finance Minister and aide to former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Mohammad Chatah, was among six people confirmed dead in the blast. Chatah served as Lebanon&#8217;s ambassador to the US from 1997 to 2000. The Ministry of Health says 71 people were injured in the blast.<br \/>  <br \/>  Follow our live blog below for the latest details.<br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>2:20 p.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  In a wrap-up of today&#8217;s live blog, the smoke has barely settled, but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/l\/30559\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\">here&#8217;s five theories already making the rounds<\/a> about Mohammad Chatah&#8217;s assassination.<br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>2:16 p.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  Take a look at some of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/l\/30558\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\">most powerful photos we&#8217;ve gathered today<\/a> of the blast site.<br \/>  <br \/>  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.beirut.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/30558-1-250x174.png\" width=\"100%\"><br \/>  A photo taken in the aftermath of Friday&#8217;s Starco blast shows a huge crater where the car bomb went off. (Reuters Photo via <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jeanassy\/status\/416536381419028480\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\">Twitter<\/a>)<\/small> <br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>1:28 p.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  Prime Minister Designate Tammam Salam Tweets that Lebanon &#8220;must show unity in the face of today&#8217;s act of terrorism.&#8221;<br \/>  <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>\u0627\u0646 \u0627\u063a\u062a\u064a\u0627\u0644 \u0645\u062d\u0645\u062f \u0634\u0637\u062d \u0648\u0627\u0644\u0627\u0628\u0631\u064a\u0627\u0621 \u0627\u0644\u0630\u064a\u0646 \u0633\u0642\u0637\u0648\u0627 \u0641\u064a \u0642\u0644\u0628 \u0628\u064a\u0631\u0648\u062a \u0647\u0648 \u0639\u0645\u0644 \u0627\u0631\u0647\u0627\u0628\u064a \u064a\u062a\u0637\u0644\u0651\u0628 \u0627\u0642\u0635\u0649 \u062f\u0631\u062c\u0627\u062a \u0627\u0644\u0648\u062d\u062f\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0648\u0637\u0646\u064a\u0651\u0629. TS<\/p>\u2014 Tammam Salam (@SalamTammam) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SalamTammam\/statuses\/416521974178119680\">December 27, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote><br \/>  <script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>1:07 p.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>Pic shows clash between ISF information branch (pro M14) &#038; Leb Army Intelligence (pro M8) after explosion.<br \/>  <br \/>  <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23Lebanon&#038;src=hash\">#Lebanon<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/lz7OCZOwrV\">pic.twitter.com\/lz7OCZOwrV<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Sara Assaf (@SaraAssaf) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SaraAssaf\/statuses\/416526964842057728\">December 27, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote><br \/>  <script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>12:47 p.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  In a message posted on his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/photo.php?fbid=10152465267883294&#038;set=a.316735398293.193139.228456818293&#038;type=1\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook page Friday<\/a>, former Prime Minister Saad Hariri called Chatah&#8217;s assassination a &#8220;new terrorist message to the free Lebanese people of the Future Movement and March 14. It is a [message] of hate addressed to any person who believes in the message of late PM Rafik Hariri and who calls for the restitution of [power in the country to be handed over to] the state alone.<br \/>  <br \/>  Terrorists and criminals are using explosions and car bombs and other tools of hatred to catch Lebanon&#8217;s free men, one after the other.&#8221;<br \/>  <br \/>  In addition, in a reference to Hezbollah, Hariri also writes that those who do not want to participate in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon are the same people who killed Chatah.<br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>12:21 p.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  A source close to Chatah, tells NOW Media that Tarek Badr, a bodyguard for Chatah, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NOW_eng\/status\/416513893297831936\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\">is among the dead<\/a>.<br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>12:15 p.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  The European Union Ambassador to Lebanon Angelina Eichhorst, who last met with Chatah on Saturday, expressed his relentless work for the good of the country.<br \/>  <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-partner=\"tweetdeck\"><p>Mohamad <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23Chatah&#038;src=hash\">#Chatah<\/a>: relentlessly hard worker 4 the good his country, @ our last mtg Sat he insisted on whole world&#8217;s duty 2 help save <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23Lebanon&#038;src=hash\">#Lebanon<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Angelina Eichhorst (@aneichhorst) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/aneichhorst\/statuses\/416501337111932928\">December 27, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote><br \/>  <script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>12:10 p.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  Judge Saqr tells media the explosives set off outside the Starco complex weighed between 50 and 60 kilograms.<br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>12:04 p.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  Reports indicating that fighting is breaking out in Chatah&#8217;s hometown of Tripoli following word of his assassination.<br \/>  <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>RT <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/noor_akl\">@noor_akl<\/a>: Trouble starting in <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23Tripoli&#038;src=hash\">#Tripoli<\/a>, Shatah&#8217;s hometown. Badawi St. closed and gunfire heard acc to local media <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23Beirutblast&#038;src=hash\">#Beirutblast<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23Lebanon&#038;src=hash\">#Lebanon<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Angie Nassar (@angienassar) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/angienassar\/statuses\/416508436537303040\">December 27, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote><br \/>  <script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>12:01 p.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  The National News Agency is reporting that Lebanese commissioner to the Military Court judge Saqr Saqr is now inspecting the scene of the blast.<br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>11:54 a.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  A photograph circulating on Twitter appears to show medical personnel investigating the bomb site.<br \/>  <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>\u0628\u0627\u0644\u0635\u0648\u0631: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1&#038;src=hash\">#\u0627\u0644\u062f\u0645\u0627\u0631<\/a> \u064a\u062d\u064a\u0637 <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AA&#038;src=hash\">#\u0628\u064a\u0631\u0648\u062a<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dw0RENQrGY\">https:\/\/t.co\/dw0RENQrGY<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23Lebanon&#038;src=hash\">#Lebanon<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Lebanon\">@Lebanon<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BeirutCityGuide\">@BeirutCityGuide<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Tweepoli\">@Tweepoli<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SandyalHayek\">@SandyalHayek<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/oxh6f3tdRV\">pic.twitter.com\/oxh6f3tdRV<\/a><\/p>\u2014 mo5tar News (@mo5tarnews) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mo5tarnews\/statuses\/416505515795939328\">December 27, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote><br \/>  <script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>11:47 a.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  UK Ambassador to Lebanon Tom Fletcher takes to Twitter, saying Chatah was courageous and believed in taking risks for Lebanon.<br \/>  <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>Mohamad Chatah was a wise, tolerant, smart patriot. His courage not that he knew risks but that he believed Lebanon worth taking them for.<\/p>\u2014 Tom Fletcher (@HMATomFletcher) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HMATomFletcher\/statuses\/416505545219387392\">December 27, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote><br \/>  <script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>11:40 a.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  Caretaker PM Najib Mikati has sent out a message on Twitter condemning the assassination of Chatah, calling him a moderate political figure who believed in the language of reason, logic and the right to voice differing opinions.<br \/>  <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>\u0627\u0646\u0646\u0627 \u0646\u062f\u064a\u0646 \u0647\u0630\u0627 \u0627\u0644\u0627\u063a\u062a\u064a\u0627\u0644 \u0627\u0644\u0630\u064a \u0627\u0633\u062a\u0647\u062f\u0641 \u0634\u062e\u0635\u064a\u0629 \u0633\u064a\u0627\u0633\u064a\u0629 \u0648\u0627\u0643\u0627\u062f\u064a\u0645\u064a\u0629 \u0645\u0639\u062a\u062f\u0644\u0629 \u0648\u0631\u0627\u0642\u064a\u0629 \u0622\u0645\u0646\u062a \u0628\u0627\u0644\u062d\u0648\u0627\u0631 \u0648\u0644\u063a\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0639\u0642\u0644 \u0648\u0627\u0644\u0645\u0646\u0637\u0642 \u0648\u062d\u0642 \u0627\u0644\u0627\u062e\u062a\u0644\u0627\u0641 \u0641\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0631\u0623\u064a<\/p>\u2014 Najib Mikati (@Najib_Mikati) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Najib_Mikati\/statuses\/416503541818486784\">December 27, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote><br \/>  <script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>11:27 a.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  Local media is commenting on possible motives behind assassination and linking his death to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the trial set up to investigate and prosecute the individuals behind the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. <br \/>  <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23Chatah&#038;src=hash\">#Chatah<\/a>\u2019s assassination linked to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23STL&#038;src=hash\">#STL<\/a> trial; Chatah was going to give televised interview on tribunal, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23March_14&#038;src=hash\">#March_14<\/a> sources tell NOW <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23NOW_Eng&#038;src=hash\">#NOW_Eng<\/a><\/p>\u2014 NOW English (@NOW_eng) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NOW_eng\/statuses\/416497148591890432\">December 27, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote><br \/>  <script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>11:15 a.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  Take a look at some raw video footage taken shortly after the blast<br \/>    <iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"315\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0wf76ny8yL0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>  <br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>11:15 a.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>Nearly every window blown out in multi building Starco office block. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23Beirut&#038;src=hash\">#Beirut<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/v4kMbwZdYq\">pic.twitter.com\/v4kMbwZdYq<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Habib Battah (@habib_b) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/habib_b\/statuses\/416495969476157440\">December 27, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote><br \/>  <script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>10:55 a.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  Chatah&#8217;s ID was reportedly recovered at the site of the blast. <br \/>  <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>\u0635\u0648\u0631\u0629 \u0644\u0628\u0637\u0627\u0642\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0648\u0632\u064a\u0631 \u0634\u0637\u062d \u0627\u0644\u062a\u064a \u0648\u062c\u062f\u062a \u0641\u064a \u0645\u0643\u0627\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0627\u0646\u0641\u062c\u0631 \u0641\u064a \u0628\u064a\u0631\u0648\u062a. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/kNeH28M89c\">pic.twitter.com\/kNeH28M89c<\/a><\/p>\u2014 \u0635\u0648\u062a \u0637\u0631\u0627\u0628\u0644\u0633 \u0627\u0644\u062d\u0631 (@tripolinews2013) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/tripolinews2013\/statuses\/416491355830247424\">December 27, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote><br \/>  <script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>10:49 a.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  According to the National News Agency, Chatah\u2019s advisor was also killed in this morning&#8217;s blast.<br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>10:47 a.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>    <iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/instagram.com\/p\/iatLPwLcyL\/embed\/\" width=\"500\" height=\"610\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowtransparency=\"true\"><\/iframe>  <br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>10:38 a.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  According to the Lebanese Red Cross, at the scene of the blast, five people are confirmed dead and 15 injured. <br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>10:30 a.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  <br \/>  Hariri aide Mohammad Chatah, who was reportedly killed in the blast, was tweeting as recently as an hour ago. This was his final tweet:<br \/>  <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23Hezbollah&#038;src=hash\">#Hezbollah<\/a> is pressing hard to be granted similar powers in security &#038; foreign policy matters that Syria exercised in Lebanon for 15 yrs.<\/p>\u2014 Mohamad B Chatah (@mohamad_chatah) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mohamad_chatah\/statuses\/416465548185444352\">December 27, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote><br \/>  <script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>10:22 a.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  Lebanese media is reporting that former minister Mohammad Chatah, an adviser to former Prime Minister and Future Party leader Saad Hariri, was the target of the blast.<br \/>  <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>Beirut Starco Explosion &#8211; Hariri advisor for International Affairs Moham!d Shatah was targeted <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23Lebanon&#038;src=hash\">#Lebanon<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23Bomb&#038;src=hash\">#Bomb<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23Beirut&#038;src=hash\">#Beirut<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/l6KxPHVJce\">pic.twitter.com\/l6KxPHVJce<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Ray Kazan (@raykazan) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/raykazan\/statuses\/416484478367072256\">December 27, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote><br \/>  <script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>10:15 a.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  According to Future TV, the bomb targeted a March 14 official. His name has not yet been revealed. The television station is also reporting four deaths.<br \/>  <br \/>  The photo below, taken in Dbayeh, shows a mushroom-like cloud produced after the blast.<br \/>  <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>RT <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mayasdreams\">@mayasdreams<\/a>: \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/malakyz\">@malakyz<\/a>: This explosion is scary huge. Casualties being reported. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2O11jqqlDn\">pic.twitter.com\/2O11jqqlDn<\/a> via <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/yarakhraby\">@yarakhraby<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23beirut&#038;src=hash\">#beirut<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Beirut.com (@BeirutCityGuide) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BeirutCityGuide\/statuses\/416481581893566464\">December 27, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote><br \/>  <script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>10:10 a.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  A photo being circulated on Twitter shows a car damaged in the explosion.<br \/>  <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-partner=\"tweetdeck\"><p>RT <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Muschelschloss\">@Muschelschloss<\/a>: RT <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/YanniKouts\">@YanniKouts<\/a>: <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23Lebanon&#038;src=hash\">#Lebanon<\/a> RT <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Nour_Samaha\">@Nour_Samaha<\/a> Pic: car explosion in downtown <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23Beirut&#038;src=hash\">#Beirut<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/9cvDCbtaUz\">pic.twitter.com\/9cvDCbtaUz<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Beirut.com (@BeirutCityGuide) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BeirutCityGuide\/statuses\/416481155794210816\">December 27, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote><br \/>  <script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>10:07 a.m.<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  Future TV is on the scene, and reporting casualties.<br \/>  <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>Future TV reporter on the scene: total chaos the whole street is destroyed. Car explosion. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23beirut&#038;src=hash\">#beirut<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23lebanon&#038;src=hash\">#lebanon<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/tCSu7u9XZH\">pic.twitter.com\/tCSu7u9XZH<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Amer Tabsh (@arzleb) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/arzleb\/statuses\/416478518403694592\">December 27, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote><br \/>  <script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  <br \/>  <b><big><big>9:55<\/big><\/big><\/b><br \/>  Here&#8217;s a look at some of the first pictures from the scene:<br \/>    <iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/instagram.com\/p\/iasqBMgNtx\/embed\/\" width=\"512\" height=\"600\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowtransparency=\"true\"><\/iframe>  <br \/>  <br \/>  <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>RT <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/tayyar_org\">@tayyar_org<\/a>: \u0628\u0627\u0644\u0635\u0648\u0631\u0629: \u062a\u0635\u0627\u0639\u062f \u0627\u0644\u062f\u062e\u0627\u0646 \u0645\u0646 \u0645\u0643\u0627\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0625\u0646\u0641\u062c\u0627\u0631 \u0641\u064a \u0628\u064a\u0631\u0648\u062a <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SxNE9t9hYF\">pic.twitter.com\/SxNE9t9hYF<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Beirut.com (@BeirutCityGuide) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BeirutCityGuide\/statuses\/416476552268771328\">December 27, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote><br \/>  <script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>  <br \/>  <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" lang=\"en\"><p>RT <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mzeeshami\">@mzeeshami<\/a> A car bomb just exploded right next to my house. I&#8217;m shaking. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/search?q=%23beirut&#038;src=hash\">#beirut<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6d5kNKaaJL\">pic.twitter.com\/6d5kNKaaJL<\/a><\/p>\u2014 Blogs of War (@BlogsofWar) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BlogsofWar\/statuses\/416475859134861313\">December 27, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote><br \/>  <script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A car bomb went off around 9:45 a.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":446753,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ai_generated_summary":"","_preview_accessed":0,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"media-embed-type":[],"class_list":["post-30550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"authorship":[186],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast 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